"Parents residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have now been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention throughout the news, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express similar concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will will not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
